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* Press release…
Today, the Rauner campaign is launching a new ad titled “Can’t Afford That.”
The latest ad from the Rauner campaign focuses on JB Pritzker as a puppet of Mike Madigan. The puppets in the ad are concerned about the massive income tax hike they would face if Mike Madigan and JB Pritzker got their way. Illinois families can’t afford a Pritzker tax hike.
* The ad…
* Script…
“Take it from us.”
“JB Pritzker, he’s a puppet.”
“Yeah, Mike Madigan’s puppet. For decades, Mike Madigan kept property taxes high and made a fortune helping cronies like Pritzker dodge them.”
“Now, Madigan and Pritzker want to raise your income taxes even more.”
“Um, we can’t afford that.”
“They know, Higher taxes for you. More corruption for them.”
“JB Pritzker, the guy’s no dummy…”
“But he is Mike Madigan’s puppet.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:33 am
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Previous Post: Today’s number: $146,550,034
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I get that he’s not in charge of the state, but is he also not in charge of his campaign? This is pitiful.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:39 am
No Bruce, we want to raise YOUR state income taxes.
Comment by Illinois Resident Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:42 am
I hope the Henson’s sue the campaign.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:43 am
Same script since March.
Same exact script.
“Why does that matter, usually that’s good, searing a message?”
Welp… Bruce is *still* 20+ points under water, polling less than one in four (24%) approval… and Bruce is down 16 point.
Insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results… this time with muppets.
At least the phony Anne Wedner was before the muppets. Wedner can hold her head high, yes, it took 2 muppets to say what she’s saying… and thinking these muppets are better than her.
That’s fun.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:44 am
Finally, a fresh, new idea from the Rauner camp.
Comment by Blue Bayou Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:45 am
It could be a powerful message… but it is backwards. If it were, “Mike Madigan, the most powerful Speaker of the House in any state, bought wholesale by billionaire elitist uber-liberal JB Pritzker…” it would be much more compelling. Most people know that billionaires like JB and Bruce Rauner are puppets to nobody.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:47 am
If you’re going to put a laugh track in your ad with Muppets, at least make an effort to be funny. Even absent the laugh track, if you’re going to rip off the balcony Muppets, you had better be funny.
It’s not funny, it’s sad. The messaging is tired and not working. Such a dud of a spot.
Comment by Stormfield Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:49 am
Oh wow so Rauner doesn’t like Madigan. Zzzzzzzzzzz
Comment by Rusty Bridges Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:50 am
I’m just trying to imagine the pitch for this ad. Pitch: Let’s get two puppets, like the old geezers on the Muppet Show, to complain about Madigan and Pritzker. Let’s make sure to get white puppets in business suits because our base is successful-looking white men. Rauner Campaign: Love it, let’s do it. /smh
Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:54 am
What’s the opposite of an October Surprise?
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:54 am
A+
It’s kinda funny. It will stick in your head at a time when most messages are having a hard time breaking through the cluttered airwaves. It reinforces his core message.
He still won’t win, but it’s an A+ ad.
Comment by Phil King Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:54 am
Hey, this ad isn’t half bad…
No, it’s all bad
Comment by Statler&Waldorf Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 9:59 am
Feels like you’re watching the summer children’s program at your local public library with a really crazy script. Weird.
Comment by it'smyopinion Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:02 am
For Captain Ahab Rauner the Madigan obsession goes on.
Comment by XDNR Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:04 am
Phil King - so in your mind the 40 million Rauner ads linking Pritzker to Madigan failed to gel in the minds of voters, but this one finally does because of the use of puppets?
Comment by TominChicago Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:09 am
“Surprise, surprise, surprise” in my best Gomer Pyle imitation
Comment by Publius Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:17 am
Ads with a dark screen and a scary sounding announcer are a dime a dozen. Voters tune them out. This one is different, has a theme, and will stick in your mind if you see it on TV.
I did not say this will succeed in linking Pritzker to a Madigan in voters minds. The success of that strategy has more to do with Rauner’s credibility among voters (which is low) than the delivery mechanism.
Comment by Phil King Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:28 am
===if you see it on TV===
Nowhere does it say that this is a TV ad.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:29 am
Two white guy puppets rehashing the old Madigan schtick, with canned laughter over something not really funny.
If at first you don’t succeed, keep pounding away on the failing message? Will this finally work?
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:30 am
Cute.
Comment by Saluki Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:31 am
This ad might be more memorable because it is different, but that doesn’t mean it is good. As others have said, the “JB is Madigan’s puppet” theme has gotten Rauner no where in the polls. I don’t see how Muppets rip off will change that.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:33 am
The interesting thing is Madigan hasn’t contributed to Pritzker the way Griffin, and in the past Uihlein have contributed to Rauner.
So is Rauner a puppet of Ken Griffin? And a discarded puppet of Uihlein? For a mere $20 million, you can have your very own Rauner puppet, available at a toy store near you.
Comment by A Jack Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:48 am
I wonder, at this point, how much good Rauner’s commercials will do regardless of how well or poorly done. Advertisers hope he doesn’t give up and pocket at least some of his “BTIA War Funds”.
Comment by Matts Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:50 am
Ads like this should at least be funny. This fails across the board. I feel sorry for the people running Uncle Bruce’s campaign after seeing this. Totally pathetic.
Comment by The Real Captain Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:51 am
It looks like the BTIA still can’t come up with a reason to vote FOR Rauner.
Anyone else notice that with a month to go, Bruce’s face and voice are nowhere to be found on his ads?
Comment by Jocko Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:52 am
Richard Uihlein had a Rauner puppet, but apparently it broke. Unfortunately Uihlein could not get a refund.
Ken Griffin still has a working Rauner puppet that will soon be a collector’s item.
Comment by A Jack Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:55 am
Embarrassing.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:59 am
Still waiting for Rauner’s ad detailing his accomplishments…
Comment by El Conquistador Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:00 am
Lousy execution of a good idea. If you’re calling someone a puppet, they should be the only puppet that appears in your ad.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:07 am
After four-plus years, the anti-Madigan theme has rocketed Rauner to 30% in the polls.
When BTIA(TM) phones it in, Sarah at the switchboard in Mayberry has to connect them.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:09 am
Rauner could have rolled out his latest Pee Wee Herman costume and did the tequila dance for an encore.
Comment by DeseDemDose Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:10 am
Is the GovJunk “plan” something we are so stupid that we have banged this drum for 4 years and are now 18 points behind, tried to cover up 13 deeaths at Quincy and own a company that is poisonin’ folks in the western ‘burbs.
But it does deflect attention while we push all the political hacks into better state jobs.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:18 am
I love this ad. Just keep beating your head against the wall Bruce with the same message that has given you your 17 point deficit.
Comment by Anon0091 Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:34 am
Rauner “gave us” a 32% “tax cut”, things got a helluva lot worse, then he signed off on a 32% tax hike…but that isn’t any of my business
[Kermit sips tea]
Comment by Don Gerard Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:35 am
If this is the October surprise then Bruce has a problem.
The last two weeks hitting Jeanne with the Madigan issue gave Bruce a super small win but Jeanne had nothing to counter with.
JB just gave himself another $20 million Jeanne didn’t have that opportunity.
This ad isn’t bad but this isn’t strong enough to pull you up and win this race for you. If you think this is the winner, you’re doing it wrong.
Comment by Dupage Bard Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:45 am
So, am I to take away from this ad that only puppets support Rauner?/s
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 12:11 pm
They should try it in every advertising genre:
Mike Madigan…
Is Mean…
And Corrupt…
Don’t Vote for JB…
Burma-Shave.
Comment by lakeside Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 12:31 pm
Call me crazy, but the puppets seem to bear a resemblance to Daniel Biss and Chris Kennedy.
Comment by Galesburger Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 1:15 pm
That’s worse than Quinn’s Squeezy thing. I didn’t think that it was possible.
Comment by Bobby Hicks Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Rauner doesn’t like Madigan.
Statler and Waldorf, Jr., don’t like Hyatt, Jr.
No surprises here.
Comment by Whatever Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 1:36 pm
What’s ironic is that we can’t afford 4 more years of Rauner.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 1:53 pm
Hey another Rauner ad aimed at Madigan. What a surprise. The PR team must be laser focused and have nothing else going on.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 2:17 pm
=I love this ad=
From the same people who came up with “toliets.”
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 2:19 pm
If Rauner and Uhlein are Statler and Waldorf, heckling from the balcony, doesn’t that make Madigan and Pritzker > Kermit and Fozzie Bear?
I can see the resemblance, particularly given JB’s self-proclaimed comedic inneptitude, and Madigan’s dimunitive stature and reported cold-bloodedness.
But is anyone under the age of 45 going to get this joke?
And who are Gonzo, Miss Piggy and the Swedish Chef?
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 2:49 pm
And who are Gonzo, Miss Piggy and the Swedish Chef?
Rauner’s grandfather is definitely not the Swedish Chef.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 3:06 pm
The only merit to this is that tax increases are going to be the front and center issue for the next post-Rauner term.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 5:05 pm
Ridiculous. Billionaires aren’t puppets to millionaires. It actually works the other way around.
Comment by Alex Ander Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 5:46 pm